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Suspect may have been 'freaked' by officers on unrelated call, report says

By Mitchell Byars, Camera Staff Writer

Posted:
08/01/2014 08:26:01 AM MDT

Updated:
08/01/2014 02:22:56 PM MDT

A Western Disposal garbage truck stolen in Boulder is seen after crashing into a median on U.S. 287 in Broomfield following a police chase down U.S. 36. (Photo courtesy Denver's 7News)

Police said the man accused of stealing a garbage truck in Boulder and then leading cops on a chase down U.S. 36 may have been "freaked" by officers near his home on an unrelated call just before the alleged theft.

A police report on the incident released Thursday night shed some light on the possible motivation behind the bizarre series of events that led to the arrest of Daniel Morkert, 26, of Boulder, on suspicion of auto theft, careless driving and eluding a police officer on Wednesday.

According to the report, a neighbor said Morkert, who she believed was schizophrenic, got "freaked" when officers showed up in the area of his apartment at 2995 College Ave. at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday on an unrelated call.

An officer at the scene wrote in the report that Morkert exited his apartment during the call with his pitbull named "Diesel," thanked the officer for his service and then asked, "Can I borrow your police car?"

The officer, assuming Morkert was joking, said, "No," and left the scene, according to the report.

At 3:07 p.m., a Western Disposal garbage truck driver -- identified in the report as Jose Valencia -- said he got out of his truck at the trash enclosure at 2995 College Ave. to move a dumpster.

Valencia told police he left the driver's side door open, and while he was out of the truck, he saw Morkert get into the truck. According to the report, Morkert said, "I'm taking your truck!," to which Valencia replied, "Please don't take the truck!"

Valencia told police he was going to try to get Morkert out of the truck, but decided not to when he saw that Morkert's pitbull was sitting next to him in the truck.

Boulder police followed Morkert onto U.S. 36, and Boulder County sheriff's deputies deployed spikes in the road near the highway's McCaslin Boulevard exit. One of the truck's front tires was damaged, but the suspect continued eastbound.

The truck exited U.S. 36 at the on-ramp to Wadsworth Boulevard, driving north on that road before crashing at about 3:30 p.m. into a median at the U.S. 287 loop just south of Midway Boulevard.

After crashing, Morkert was immediately arrested by Broomfield police and taken into the custody of Boulder officers.

No one was injured in the incident, police say. The truck, however, was badly damaged.

Morkert remains in custody at the Boulder County Jail on $1,000 bond. He is due for formal filing of charges on Tuesday.

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